Miriam Ocariz

Miriam Ocariz was born in Bilbao on the 6th December 1968. She studied Fashion Design in the Lanca International School of Bilbao in 1990. She then went on to obtain a degree in Fine Arts from the Basque Country University in 1992, where she specialised in Graphic Techniques. During her time as a student she also attended various courses and workshops in Graphic Art, Photography, Marketing and Fashion, Textile Handling and Manipulation, Fashion Styling and Computer Assisted Pattern Design in order to complete her training.

From 1991 to 1993 Miriam and her partner took part in the Expoconsumo International Design Competition held in Bilbao. In 1991 they were awarded first prize in the womenswear section and second prize in the children's wear section. They were equally successful the following year, obtaining the first prize in the womenswear section. In 1993, this time on her own, she received first prize in the Figurines section as well as second prize in the same section in collaboration with her partner.

Between 1993 and 1998 she combined her work as a designer with that of teacher at the Lanca School of Fashion and Design in Bilbao.

In 1994, Miriam and her partner opened their first store, which they called Monge-Ocariz and where they sell their own designs.

From 1998 to 1999, Miriam worked with the Basque Haute Couture designer Javier Barroeta, and was also involved in various exhibitions, mainly in Bilbao.

Miriam Ocariz presented her first individual collection at the Gaudí Fashion Show in Barcelona in 1996. Since then she has taken part in national and international fashion events, earning a solid reputation as one of Spain's most promising designers. Proof of this is the fact that she was awarded the L’Oreal Paris Prize for Best Young Designer at the Cibeles fashion show held in February 2002.